Banteng uplisted to critically endangered as a result of incessant poaching and habitat loss

Press release from the Sabah Wildlife Department

29 October 2024, Kota Kinabalu: The banteng (Bos javanicus), a charismatic species of wild cattle native to Southeast Asia, is now listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Previously, the banteng was listed as Endangered. The negative status change is due to an estimated global population decline of more than 80% over the past two decades. This decline is largely attributed to unabated pressures from illegal hunting and habitat loss. In Sabah, the Bornean banteng, a subspecies (Bos javanicus lowi), is currently the most endangered large mammals in the state.

The current total global population of banteng is estimated at approximately 3,300 (2,475–4,900). In Sabah, a mere 500 individuals survive in four isolated sub-populations in the north (Paitan-Sugut), east (Kulamba-Tabin), cenral (Central Forest) and west (Sipitang).

The scale of decline varies between populations, but overall, the expert assessment suggested that the global banteng population has decreased by 81% over the past 21 years. Declines are primarily driven by illegal hunting for meat and trade in horns, by-catch in traps set for other species, and extensive habitat loss and degradation across much of its range. “The tragic decline in banteng numbers is a manifestation of the Asian Snaring Crisis. Thousands of indiscriminate traps litter key banteng habitat, particularly in mainland Southeast Asia. Addressing the drivers of snaring is critical if we are to recover banteng and other large Asian mammals” said Dr Thomas Gray, a co-author of the assessment and the Landscape Recovery Lead for WWFs’ Tigers Alive program.

To recover, banteng effective conservation measures are urgently required. ‘‘We call on all stakeholders to collaborate and take the urgently needed actions to reverse the negative trend. Increasing effectiveness of protection from hunting, as well as maintaining and expanding suitable habitat and connectivity, are essential for long-term population viability / future of banteng”, said James Burton, Chair, IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group.

“To reverse the negative trend on the Sabah banteng population, the state came up with the Bornean Banteng Action Plan for Sabah 2019-2028, and last June carried out its mid-term review”, said Mr Roland Niun, Director of Sabah Wildlife Department. “The main actions were to increase enforcement at the state level, establish and maintain connectivity, developing and maintaining pastures within and near the home ranges of existing herds and finally set up a Bornean banteng captive breeding programme in Sabah”, added Roland.

While the captive breeding programme is still in its infancy and that developing pastures is currently being implemented by BORA (Bringing Back Our Rare Animals) NGO in Tabin Wildlife Reserve, both Sabah Wildlife and Forestry Departments have been very active in increasing enforcement in the state, with Sabah Forestry Department setting up PROTECT, a Special Enforcement Team, with the support of WWF-Malaysia and Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) and funding from the Sime Darby Foundation.

“At the same time, Sabah Wildlife Department has been working with DGFC to boost enforcement and forensic capacity to deter wildlife crimes by setting up SWD’s own intelligence unit and forensic laboratory, with funding provided by the US Department of State through its Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)”, explained Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar, Deputy Director of SWD. “More recently, SWD, with the support of DGFC and funding from Sime Darby Foundation, set up the Rapid Response Teams (RRT) to improve effectiveness in reducing wildlife crimes, especially poaching, in the state. The emphasis of the RRT is on tackling online-related modus operandi and in protecting key areas such as the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary and Tabin Wildlife Reserve. The responses are primarily dictated by the crime analytical products developed by the SWD’s Intelligence Unit and by other monitoring systems. So far, the results obtained by SWD’s Intelligence Unit and the Rapid Response Teams has been extremely successful, leading to arrests and prosecutions including cases on some of our totally protected species including the Bornean banteng”, added Soffian.

“Malaysia is extremely serious in protecting its natural resources via greater collaboration among enforcement agencies under the Khazanah Integrated Operations (OBK). Additional efforts have been made by the Federal Government to put more boots on the ground via the Biodiversity Protection and Patrolling Program (BO3), whereby more Community Rangers will be hired and appointed as Honorary Wildlife Wardens. We recognise that the pressure on our wildlife is high, and we are taking all necessary measures to curb wildlife poaching and trafficking in Sabah”, concluded Soffian.

Beautiful bull banteng in one of the forest reserves in Sabah. Bull bantengs are poached for meat and trophy (courtesy: DGFC)

Female banteng and her calf. The female carries a snare wound at her back foot (courtesy: DGFC) 

For more information on this press release, please contact:

Dr Benoit Goossens, Danau Girang Field Centre

Email contact@dgfc.life